TNA wrestler Magnus on why Vince Russo put he and Samoa Joe together as a team, comments on the high praise he's received from Dixie Carter and TNA legends

TNA wrestler Magnus (a/k/a Nick Aldis) was asked in an Mirror website interview about receiving high praise from Dixie Carter and several top TNA talents. "I looked up to Kurt in particular when I decided to be a pro wrestler, and Sting and Hulk Hogan are both characters that captured my imaginations as a kid, but never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be working alongside them by the time I made it to a high enough level," Magnus said.

"I always dreamed of wrestling Kurt Angle, but even that was a pipe dream. So the fact that I’ve wrestled Sting and Kurt and appeared with Hulk is still surreal to me and means so much. But then to hear them publicly endorse me is one of the most gratifying feelings I have ever had. Sting was the first major name to speak up for me, and Kurt has been a supporter of mine for a long time. He’s a wonderful guy and I am so appreciative of all he has done for me and the business.

"Dixie saw something in me before anyone else, so in terms of how things are going for me now, I’m proud of myself and forever grateful for her for her support. I was determined not to let her down. Anytime someone takes a chance with me, I will do my absolute best to return on that faith. It was the same thing when Richard Woolfe [the former head of Sky 1] saw something in me for Gladiators that the other producers did not. And it will be the same for anyone else that sees something in me: I’ll deliver." Read the full interview at Mirror.co.uk.

Powell's POV: Magnus also explained that he and Samoa Joe were "thrown together by Vince Russo because according to him 'we were both always pissed off, so we could be pissed off together.' He spoke more about teaming with Joe and Doug Williams, becoming a member of the Main Event Mafia, Bound For Glory, and more.